iOTA 07 June 2017

CONTENTS Thisish Cover - Terran Times 3 02 Editorial - of sorts - iOTA goes to a convention 02 1954 - The Third Australia SF Convention - The beginning of the end for Sydney fandom 05 The History Corner - The Art of History 11 Encountering Science Fiction - with George Turner 14 1968 - Paul Stevens Turns on the Censors - A one act play about censorship in Australia 21 1970 - Fanzine Review - Terran Times 3 22 The Long and Winding Road to Aussiecon - success at the HeiCon 70 business session 24 Progress Report - at the Monash Special Collection 25 The Photo File - Arthur C Clarke in Queensland 27 Your Say - Lee Harding, Bruce Gillespie, Rob Gerrand Roman Orszanski and Marc Ortlieb 27 1968 - Graham Stone Makes John Bangsund’s Blood Boil - More about the Australian SF Association 31 1972 - Adelaide’s First Convention - Bruce Gillespie Spills the Beans 34

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 1 iOTA is the little efanzine put together by Leigh Edmonds McCormack and Nomad were the first generation of media fans who can be contacted electronically, and in almost no other way, in Australia and their fanzine was among the first (if not the first) at [email protected]. media fanzine to be published in Australia. Because of the This little efanzine is produced as a progress report on my relationship that had developed between Shayne, Nomad and current project to research and write a history of Australian several fans who were fannishly inclined, Terran Times is firmly fandom, focusing on the period between 1956 and 1975. iOTA is a media fanzine, but with a twist of fannishness to give it a light a research tool and document, containing some of the material and and entertaining edge. thoughts that will be used in writing the history. It is also a place Editorial - of sorts where I publish bits and pieces of the writing and art of Australia’s First, the technical stuff fannish past to help introduce you to the rich vein of material that What I did not realize is that some of you reading this have previous generations of Australian fans have left us. If you want not been seeing it the way that I see it on my screen. This has more details about this history project you’ll find them in the first something to do with the fonts that I’ve been using, such as the issue of iOTA. headings in ‘Cooper Black’. Apparently, if you don’t have that iOTA is more or less available for ‘the usual’ but two things font already loaded onto your computer the iOTA pdf file choses bring its editor the greatest fannish pleasure. One is great gobs of a different font. Don’t ask me to explain it any further, if you egoboo and the other is a contributions to the discourse of want the technical details write to Roman Orszanski who pointed understanding and writing a history of Australian fandom such as out the problem and also showed me the solution. Smart boy commentary on items published in previous issues of iOTA, Roman. So now, I hope, what I see and what you see are the same suggestions of further sources for research or individual thing. contributions on the general topic of this efanzine. If all else fails, issues of iOTA are put up on efanzines.com fairly soon after I’ve iOTA goes to a convention completed them. I guess that the most recent convention I’ve been to was Thisish’s Cover Aussiecon 4, and that was about 7 years ago. (My, time flies...) Not that I have anything against conventions, it’s just that they The cover of Etherline on the previous issue of iOTA located don’t hold the same fascination they once did and so we haven’t us squarely in the mid 1950s when stf was locked inside its genre gone out of our way to attend them recently. walls and fans concentrated on being serious about their interest. However, having embarked upon this project I thought it With this issue we find ourselves at the beginning of the 1970s would be interesting to attend at least one day of a convention to when two new ideas were taking hold in Australia; fannish fandom see what they are like these days. My original plan was just to and media fandom. The editors of Terran Times, Shayne

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 2 pop along for a day to the 2017 Melbourne convention, having to have a young fan point me to where I needed to go, I Continuum 13, which was also the 56th Australian National SF found my way to registration and traded my ticket for a dog tag Convention, and observe what went on from the back row. Then that allowed me to wander around at the convention for the day. things happened and I ended up moderating a Fan History panel Very soon I discovered something about modern day conventions which ensured that I would be there, but with a little responsibility that quite astounded me. too. A couple of issue ago I commented on how much the fan So I bought a ‘ticket’ for the day and wondered that it cost publishing scene has changed in a few decades, due to modern me $75 (with a concession, one of the few advantages of getting on electronic technology which has changed the way that fans in years), I’ll have to go back and see how much it cost to join the communicate with each other. I had thought that somehow this 7th national convention in 1966, probably only a couple of dollars. would change conventions too, but I soon found that it hasn’t, to But that’s inflation for you. I then trundled down to the railway any noticeable extent. The trappings have changed a bit but, in station and booked my free pensioner train ticket for the trip to essence, the convention I attended in 2017 is not much different Melbourne, made a few other arrangements, and I was set. to my first convention in 1966. One of the arrangements I made was to prepare a handout Conventions, it seems, are still about the clan coming for the panel, the beginnings of an annotated chronology which I together and fans meeting, talking and no doubt, since the called, due to lack of inspiration, Australian Fandom, Adventures convention was in a hotel, doing other things that fans can do in in Time. It has pictures on the front and back covers and most of private if they so desire. Little clumps of fans gathered here and the interior is my first attempts at an annotated chronology of there around the venue talking about this and that. From some of Australian fandom which goes up to the publication of the first the conversation I overhead, there seemed to be more ‘filthy pro’ issue of Australian SF Review in 1966. The chronology sitting on talk than there used to be, but that is to be expected at a this computer goes further than that with details like references, convention where book launches seemed a common event. but I didn’t want to break the bank in publishing the handout so However I didn’t have time to overhear too many it’s only eight pages all up this time around. Somehow or another conversations, I spent most of the time talking to people too. I you will find it as a supplement to this issue of iOTA. had planned to sit in on some panels to see what fans are talking Finding the hotel was no problem, I am certain that Valma about these days but before I knew it I had bumped into Roman and I attended a Doctor Who convention there in the late 1970s. and then Justin and then Marc and Bruce and... well it went on Even if the hotel has changed name and had a face lift it is still in like that for the rest of the day. There were a few fans who I had the same place where we left it. not met before and naughty Gillian Polack chatted with me about After the initial process of getting lost in the foyer and worldcons and this and that, playing me along until I recognized

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 3 who she was. A little later I found myself talking to Carey with somebody I did not recognize. After a while somebody else Lenehan about writing and publishing, Lucy Sussex about various came in - Lee Harding actually - and gradually a clump of people things including George Turner and, later in the day, with Roman had clustered around the table talking in animated fashion. Orszanski about uranium and energy generation, with lots more in between. I was getting quite hoarse by the end of the day. I did manage to tear myself away from all this to catch part of one panel and was reminded, very quickly, how tedious they can be. People told me that the Guest of Honor was highly entertaining so I took in a couple of minutes of her performance, but I’ve already seen enough of that kind of thing at conventions to want to hang around.

By the time I arrived on the scene some of the crowd has wandered off. In the background we have Sean McMullen and Lee Harding talking to someone who may be Sean’s daughter. Seated at the table we have, with their backs to us, Bruce Gillespie and Roman Orszanski, and facing us Dick Jennsen, Jack Dann, Janeen Webb and Bill Wright. A formidable bunch. If you met them in a dark alley they’d talk you into submission. So, what did I learn from my experiences. I learned that although communications technologies had changes the way that In the distance, the Guest of Honor amuses the assembled convention fans communicate over distance they still interact in the same ways as they always have when they are talking face-to-face. Later, in the restaurant, while I having one of their very nice Fans may be slans but they are also people, just like anybody else. breakfasts for lunch and going over my notes for the panel, I And how did the fan history panel go? Quite well, actually. watched another convention phenomenon I’d forgotten. Over at On the panel we had Rob Gerrand, Dick Jenssen and Lee Harding another table were Jack Dann and Janeen Webb having a meal with me attempting to keep them in check. The audience seemed

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 4 interested in what we were talking about and there was little apparently be put up on You Tube - I was going to conclude by shuffling and looking at watches. I take that as a good sign. We saying that ‘you should have been there’, but apparently you still had hoped that Race Matthews and Mervyn Binns could join us too can. but both were crook on the day so we had to fly without them. PS. Note to convention committee. I enjoyed myself at the convention, things appeared well organized and under control. In other words, a good and well run convention. Even though I might not get to conventions these days I’m glad to see that they are still in good hands. 1954 - The Third Australian SF Convention - The Beginning of the End for Sydney fandom I wonder what the fans who organized Australia’s third national convention would have thought about the 56th national convention over sixty years later. Several things perhaps. First might be the number of women there because those early fans lived in a society in which gender stereotyping was the norm and The Fan History panel. From the left: me, Lee Harding, Dick Jennsen and stf was almost exclusively in the male realm. (It had taken the Rob Gerrand. Thanks to Helena Binns for the photo. Sydney Futurians a serious debate before they voted to allow Because Dick and Lee were founder members of the women to join their ranks.) Melbourne SF Group in 1953 we concentrated on the attractions Second might have been the informality of the whole show. of stf in those days, the problems of getting your hands on it in Few in 2017 were dressed up in the best clothes, suit and tie were Australia, what it was like to be a fan then and how fans acted out absent and nobody used formal titles when addressing each other. their creativity, mainly through writing (or trying to write) stf. Third, and perhaps most startling, might have been that Both of them went out of their way to attend and I’m sure their there were no panel sessions about the progress of the Mars effort was worthwhile because they spoke from personal colonies or the terraforming of Venus. Instead, everyone there experience, with knowledge and conviction which was, I think, a seemed to have little boxes in their hands that appeared to be valuable experience for the audience. communications devices that they did strange, unaccountable The panel was recorded, video and audio, and will things with.

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 5 Finally they might have been surprised that there were three Third is the contrast between the reports given by Sydney or four streams of programming on a range of topics, only some of and Melbourne fans during the business session. Sydney fans which related to stf as they would have understood it. report in detail of their achievements but Bob McCubbin simply So much for conjecture. In 1954 science fiction and the says that the Melbourne group doesn’t have any formal world in general were quite different places to what they are now, membership, although it knows of 97 people who are interested in and this is reflected in running of and discussion at the 1954 stf in Melbourne. convention. The other thing to note is the nature of the report itself; a Before we start I want to alert you to three matters that come fairly detailed description of proceedings but almost nothing about up in this report. the experience of attending the convention. There is a hint of the The first is the debate about the Australian SF Association enjoyment that might have taken place at Lyell Crane’s place the at the business session of this convention, remembering that the night before the convention but not a word of who was there or Association was also a major topic of conversation at the 1953 what they did. The second major blank occurs when Melbourne business session reported in our previous issue. The Association fans left the room so Sydney fans could debate a motion about still existed in the 1960s, working on as usual and still under creating some harmony in the city, but all this report says is that Graham Stone’s direction. It’s role at that time will come up later whatever took place did not lead to a positive outcome. More in this issue. details please, Ian, I’m sure there was plenty of gossip. Second is the decision of where the next year’s convention Third is the failure of a Sydney Futurian meeting to take would be held. Melbourne fans had already decided that they place and the hint that people knew what the reason for that non- wanted to hold a convention in 1956 to go with the holding of the event was. Sadly, there are no details here. Olympic games in their city. In the report there is brief mention of But enough of me, over to Ian Crozier’s report from Futurians wanting Melbourne to hold the next convention, the one Etherline 28, 28 April 1954: in 1955, and Melbourne fans declining to do so. It is most likely 1954 - THE THIRD AUSTRALIAN that the Sydney Futurians wanted Melbourne to run the 1955 event SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION so that the North Shore Futurians could not. Melbourne fans might For most of the interstate delegation, this Convention not have been aware at the time, but some of the Sydney Futurians opened at Lyell Crane’s place on the Friday, at which liberal came to believe that this was a conspiracy between Melbourne and doses of refreshment were imbibed. the North Shore Futurians at the expense of the Sydney Futurians, The main activity on the Saturday morning was the frantic which probably helped sour further relations between some of the arranging of displays by all and sundry. Those not interested in Sydney Futurians and Melbourne fans. this activity slowly wandered around and got acquainted,

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 6 mainly by means of a pen and a copy of the Con booklet. WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE and THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD There were excellent displays of early sf magazines and STILL. fanzines, and a selection of covers from the FSS library. Two The Symposium, THE WORLD OF TOMORROW, was floors down Dave Cohen of the Blue Centaur Book Co had taken opened by Mr S Dunk, with THE FUTURE OF THE MACHINE. Mr a room to hold his vast selection of material, including most of Dunk painted a very gloomy picture, prophesying as he did the the original covers of the Malian Press series. These are really complete disappearance of all metals and fuel. Mr H Brunen, in worth seeing. THE FUTURE OF MAN, carried on in the same dismal vein. He Various personalities drifted in at odd hours, including seemed to be vastly influenced by Huxley and Stapledon. Mr V Professor John Blatt of the Sydney University. Various other Molesworth, in THE HISTORY OF CULTURE, prefaced his personalities drifted out as fast as they came in, including most remarks with the statement that most of his material seemed of the delegation from Melbourne, in search of some staying to have been used by Mr Brunen. However, he went on to power. present his arguments, which boiled down to the fact that in his The press were in attendance, and D Lawson rushed opinion, culture would not change very much in the future. madly around using reels of film, presumably to good effect. After a short intermission, Mr P Glick opened the Forum, The main session got under way at 2.15PM, slightly late, challenging most of Mr Dunk’s arguments very successfully in owing to the bad habit fans have of wandering it at odd hours. my opinion. Mr Brunen also came in for several ‘Glickian’ Mr Judd introduced the Convention chairman, Mr Rex remarks. The second [member] of the Forum, Mr L Crane, Meyer, who read out several congratulatory telegrams. delivered his address, in which he differed with many of the First speaker was Mr Neville Cohen, who delivered an predictions of the Symposium. Mrs N Gore, the third member address prepared by Graham Stone, CAVALCADE OF SCIENCE of the Forum, presented the woman’s angle on the future. FICTION. This was a short resume of the modern history of sf, Mr Meyer summed up the Symposium, and then threw it ranging from Wells and Verne to present day authors. open to questions from the floor. Mr Don Lawson presented an extremely interesting [talk Mr Phillips of Sydney rose and promptly disagreed with on] SCIENCE FICTION AND THE FILM. This traced the all the speakers, outlining his various arguments. Mr association of sf and the film from the early trick French films of Molesworth rose on behalf of all the speakers, and answered 1903, to Fritz Lang’s masterpieces, FRAU IM MONDE and Mr Phillips. Mr Addison of Sydney asked whether the forms of METROPOLIS, and the Kroda/Menzies production of Wells’ education will have to be changed in the future. Mr Brunen THINGS TO COME, to the present day DESTINATION MOON, decided that they would have to be changes, and Mr Glick

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 7 supported him. T Drake, Beverly Tyler and Audrey Totter. The theme should be Mr Haddon of Sydney challenged Mr Glick’s statement familiar to all fans, dealing as it did with the first A bomb. Also that specialization means extinction of a species. Mr Glick shown was ACROSS ARCTIC UNGAVA, another Canadian film. answered that his statement dealt only with animals of the Next morning the auction started one hour late and the lower order. hacksaw was again brought into play. Early material was mainly Mr Meyer closed the formal session at 5.30. BRE and British, which brought very low prices. The US digest Now this was all very interesting in a boring sort of way, mags brought fairly high prices, with F&SF bringing up to 8/6, but I fail to see the necessity of these philosophical discussions TWS up to 7/-, GALAXY up to 5/-. The BRE ASTOUNDINGs at a science fiction convention. Surely a discussion of the effect brought a few high prices, due to the early dates. Books, of a particular author on science fiction, or the rise and fall of a mostly US editions, brought fair figures, despite the fact that magazine would be much more interesting to science fiction many of them will be out in British editions soon. Another fans. It would be to me, anyway. If I wanted to listen to the spate of British PBs brought an average of 6d. other, I would go to one of the meetings of the local Semantics American PBs brought high prices, with Remo Parlanti group, or the Philosophical Society. Let’s have talks on SCIENCE paying 8/- for ROGUE QUEEN. Ooooh!, Remo!! FICTION! The Business session had an attendance of around 30, The film showing after tea was slightly on the late side, and the first report was delivered by Mr B Finch, secretary of owing to the screen being locked in the meeting hall. I hope the FSS. Mr Finch outlined the early history of the FSS, and that all meetings are not started with a hacksaw! detailed the progress made over the past year. A taped message from Robert Heinlein was played before Mr Arthur Porter had taped a report on the Futurian the film showing, and we thank Mr Heinlein for his wishes of Society of Canberra earlier in the day, and it was then played success. after the conclusion of Mr Finch’s report. He outlined the The films shown were of a very high standard indeed, and formation of the club after Mr Geoff Bennett’s visits to the experimental Canadian films, FIDDLE DEE DEE and BEGONE Melbourne and Sydney, and [had] seen both extremes at work. DULL CARE, which were PAINTED direct onto the film by Judging by the response from the reputed 300 odd readers of Norman McLaren to the above tunes are really terrific. If you sf in Canberra, it would appear that the wrong extreme [was] have not yet seen them, then I suggest you make immediate chosen. arrangements to do so. The main film was MGM’s THE Mr Lyell Crane delivered a report on behalf of the BEGINNING OR THE END, starring Robert Walker, Brian Denlevy, Adelaide Science Fiction Group, which was prepared by Mrs J

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 8 Joyce. It outlined the growth of this group, and detailed the a very strong publishing section attached to the group. past year, when the upsurge was most apparent. The library It was moved Glick, seconded Purdey, that the reports be must be really something. accepted. Mr Ted Hutt was called on to report on the Newcastle & In general business, the first item of discussion was ASFS. Hunter Valley Science Fiction Club, in which he gave the session Mr Glick suggested that ASFS be handed over intact to one of the full history of the seven members. It is intended to the flourishing clubs, for them to run and cover costs. Mr advertise extensively in the newspapers in the near future. Stone replied that the final fate of ASFS had not been decided Mr Crane reported on behalf of the ASFS, and it was on, except that it was probably that one of three courses, pointed out that not much had changed in the past year, owing reconstitution under the present executive, the course to the fact that both office bearers were actively engaged in suggested by Mr Glick, or liquidation would be taken. Mr Butt publicly for the Convention. Mr Crane said that the need for of Newcastle suggested that ASFS canvass for gifts. Mr Stone ASFS had dropped somewhat, and the original idea would have replied that this would only mean that someone else would to be changed. Apparently their approach to the outlying fan foot the bills. was not all to be desired, as the response was very Mr Salgram of Ballarat suggested an Australia wide book disappointing. For the amount of money spent, it was thought club, which would bring more readers of sf. that the results have not justified the outlay, and the position Mr Keating of Melbourne suggested that if ASFS were re- would have to be ratified at the earliest possible moment. It constituted like the majority of amateur clubs, the state bodies was decided to debate this question in General Business. could carry the main body. Mr Glick appealed for material for the US Convention, Mr Martin of Sydney said that it was apparent that Mr especially earlier Australian items. Stone and Mr Crane ‘were getting old and decrepit’, in that Mr Hubble reported on behalf of the North Shore Futurian they were not prepared to carry on the apparently large Society, tracing the club from the formation to the present day. volume of work tied up in ASFS. Mr Crane discussed the It was indicated that the name would be changed at some suggestions put forward to date, and said that it was quite true future date. that the work was becoming too much to handle. Mr McCubbin reported on behalf of the Melbourne Mr Glick said that in the early days, when ASFS was a Science Fiction Group. He stressed the informality of the group, proprietary show, it was a very well run organization, but since and pointed out that although it had no paid members, there the rapid growth, it would necessitate some other arrangement were 97 contacts on its books. He pointed out that there was as he thought it would be a good idea if the FSS took over

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 9 ASFS, and appoint Mr Stone organizer. fandom if Melbourne took the next Convention. Mr Haddon asked whether the ASFS could give any Mr McCubbin thanked the speakers, and stressed the fact indication of what course they intended to follow. that Melbourne wanted the Convention in 1956, to be run at Mr Crane stressed that the original purpose had changed, the time of the Olympic Games, and it was intended to put on and a new purpose decided on. They wanted the meeting to a large show. Owing to the large amount of work involved, it indicate such a purpose. was thought that two years would be required for this Mr Haddon moved that ASFS draw up a course and Convention. present it to a FSS meeting for approval, and all interested Mr Glick at this point suggested that the motion be put organizations [be] notified accordingly. This was seconded by to the vote. Mr Bos. Mr Martin said that it was not necessary to have any The chairman indicated that he doubted whether the organization run a Convention, as long as an Organizer be session could decide the policy of ASFS, and said that enough appointed. cources of action had been suggested for ASFS to decide on Mr Finch said that it was necessary to have close one. cooperation in the running of a Con. It was moved Haddon seconded Bos that the next Miss Simmons suggested that the Convention by held in Australian Convention be run by NSFS [North Shore Futurian Sydney, and run by a group divorced from organized clubs. Society]. In moving so, Mr Haddon said that as the aims of the Mr Glick asked that the motion be clarified as to who FSS were to advance the causes of sf, and it was stated that would be running the Con, Mr Haddon or the NSFS. most of the previous year’s activities were taken up with the Mr Haddon replied that he was applying on behalf of the running of the Convention, it was apparent that not much NSFS. advancing of sf was undertaken. Anyway, it was time that the Mrs Molesworth suggested that the motion be put to the younger section had a chance to show that it could run a vote. convention. 22 for, 14 against. Mr Bos seconded briefly. Mrs Molesworth moved that this session suggest to the Mr Crane pointed out that the Convention was under the NSFS that Mr Hubble be appointed organizer. Seconded direction of Mr Judd, and took up no time of the FSS. Haddon. Personally, he would like to see Melbourne take the Convention. Mr Martin said that in his opinion this meeting could not Mrs Molesworth said that it would be a good thing for so move.

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 10 Mr Glick said that the meeting, as an unconstituted body, On the Monday evening, there was a meeting of the could move anything it liked. Futurian Society scheduled. However, it never came off. I The Chairman ruled that the body could not move such a wonder why? motion. I J Crozier. Mr Nicholson said that the NSFS would appreciate a vote (Etherline 28, 28 April 1954) of confidence in Mr Hubble. The Historian’s Corner Moved Brunen that the session thank Mr Judd for his The Art of History masterly organization of the present Convention. Seconded I get cranky at times, particularly at events like stf McCubbin. conventions, when I get the strong impression that I am Mr Judd thanked the meeting very much. considered less of a writer than the other there because what I do M McCubbin moved that the approval of the meeting to is ‘only history’. That somehow what I do is a lower level of go ahead and organize the 1956 Convention be given. Seconded creativity because I tell stories that explain things that happened by Keating. in the past rather than telling made up stories. Mr Judd commended the idea, and said that in his opinion One conversation I overheard included the statement that 24 months was not too long to organize a Convention. ‘only fiction could tell the “truth”’, of human existence, Mr Nicholson moved that the split which had developed presumably What about the ‘truth’ of power generation or air in the Sydney organizations be healed in view of the cordial traffic control I thought to myself, but I gritted my teeth and went relations now apparent. The Melbourne group left the room about my business - I’m supposed to avoid stress these days. while this motion was discussed. Apparently it was not I suppose I shouldn’t feel so glum about this. I’m sure that successful. stf writers and fans could be made to feel second-class if they Meeting adjourned at 5.15 PM. turned up to the annual Australian Historical Association conference. ‘Horses for courses’, so to speak. There is a kind of The evening session was, in my opinion, one of the best ‘truth’ found at history conferences strangely lacking from stf periods of the Con. A really terrific 30 minute play was the conventions which might have to do with the difference between feature, supported by some more films. the two kinds of story telling. On the whole, the organization of this Convention was I’m reprinting the following passage because I want to very much better than the last, although I think the subject remind everyone that writing history is a creative act too. It’s not matter of the last was better. just a matter of finding out what happened and writing it down, It’s up to you now, NSFS.

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 11 good history has to tell an engaging and interesting story, as well many historians in this book I’ve never met (although he taught at as get the facts right. To me, this is more challenging than just ANU where I did my undergraduate work, so I’d like to think that making up a story, which may be why I prefer reading and writing some of his influence has rubbed off). He reads as though he was history to stf these days. an intense and inspiring teacher, someone I would have liked to It also occurred to me recently that the reason I once read a meet and perhaps study under. (On the other hand, perhaps a bit lot of stf and now read a lot of history is because good stf and good too intense for me.) history have one feature in common - the sense of wonder. My Towards the end of his essay on Dening, Griffiths writes favourite read of last year was Stuart Macintyre’s Australia’s about what Dening taught his students about writing and muses, Boldest Experiment, War and reconstruction in the 1940s. It is an himself, on the craft of writing history. You might not agree with epic story of how a handful of men (almost exclusively men) them, but they cheered me up immensely. turned the run down Australia of the depression era into the Greg embraced the world of fiction with generosity and modern and progressive nation we live in today. It is written with excitement, but he was also keenly aware that our literary all the literary devices available to the historian within the limits culture privileges the made-up story over the true one. And it of ‘getting it right’, touches of light and shade, success and defeat, exalts the art of invention over the art of re-presentation. ... In tension and release and it would make a great epic novel, apart recent years in Australia we witnessed a vigorous debate about from the fact that it is the story of what actually happened. The the different and overlapping roles of history and fiction in our trouble is that we take for granted the world in which we live literature and public culture, as I explore in Chapter 12 with without seeing the wonder in it, not realizing that it is exceptional reference to Inga Clendinnen’s response to Kate Grenville’s because of the things that have taken place in our collective pasts comments about here novel The Secret River (2005). to make our world what it now is. It is sometimes part of the theater of the fiction writer to My favorite read so far this year is Tom Griffiths’ The Art of Time Travel, Historians and Their Craft (though a Greg present themselves as lone virtuosos. ‘Research’ is Benford novel I’ve been loaned is rocketing up the charts). This characterized as heroic, a matter of pride but not of faith. book comprises fourteen essays about Australian historians and Writing is instinctive; creativity is unconscious; insights are writers of key Australian histories, telling us about their life personal. The exhilarating freedoms of fiction are contrasted experiences that made them the historians they were and are, about with the dutiful obligations of non-fiction. Mystery, tension, their techniques and styles and the contributions they’ve made to poetry and art seem only to be available to the novelist. These Australian history and how Australians understand themselves. are the very literary codes that Dening challenged and Number six in this catalogue is Greg Dening, one of the subverted when he advocated ‘the creative imagination in the

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 12 presentation of knowledge’. Without making a battle out of it, a piece of research or a creative work?’ I bridle at that choice. he quietly subverted all these default contrasts between fiction Historians, like novelists, are producing literary texts that have and non-fiction. Research, he reminded us, is collegial and their own internal demands of consistency, plausibility and requires courage; imagination need not be fantasy; freedoms do integrity, their own organic rationale derived from decisions exist in non-fiction; creativity can be collaborative and about where to begin and end, about which characters to communal; true stories are entrancing. Not only did he urge his foreground, about what relationships to map. In non-fiction students and colleagues to feel that all the arts of fiction were writing, this internal, textual, literary dynamic wrestles also available to them in writing true stories, but he also aimed to with hard external reality. But historians also have some educate the public to a different understanding of the realm of greater freedoms available to them. Some novelists will tell imagination, to see the creativity in the telling of true stories. you that writers of non-fiction have a broader canvas to paint ‘There is much fiction in your non-fiction, I tell [students],’ he on than they do, because truth really is stranger than fiction. wrote. ‘Actually, I don’t let my students call themselves “non- Historians can get away with narrating a much wider range of fiction” writers. They shouldn’t write “non” anything... Maybe human action because they can show that, astonishingly, it I don’t have a word to replace “non-fiction”. But I tell them to actually happened, whereas credibility can be a narrower and see themselves as writers of true stories. Creative writers, Yes, stricter measure when applied to fiction. In real life, people they are creative writers.’ ‘Be mysterious,’ he would urge, don’t behave predictably or consistently, events come from left echoing Paul Gaugin’s advice on translating silences. Be field, and astonishing coincidences do occur, but an artist of ‘experimental’, ‘entertaining’, ‘compassionate’, performative’, invention might not be able to get away with it. But even when ‘reforming’, ‘reflective’, and - Greg would always say it - ‘take telling true stories, historians have to strive to make them risks’. believable. Like Greg, I am enthralled by the craft of discipline and A historian’s finest insights are intuitive as well as imagination that is history. Sometimes the ‘non’ in ‘non-fiction’ rational, holistic as well as particular - and therefore always can be seen as a denial or a suppression. To call our writing invitations to debate. As they write, they incite; they expect ‘non-fiction’ seems to deny its creative, imaginative dimensions; disagreement and they try to furnish their readers with the it’s not something, and the something it’s not is that wonderful grounds for offering it. Footnotes are not defensive displays of and captivating world of fiction. I am reminded of the simple pedantry; they are honest expressions of vulnerability, opposition expressed in a federal department of education generous signposts to anyone who wants to retrace the path question to Australian academics about their publications: ‘Is it and test the insights, acknowledgments of the collective

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 13 enterprise that is history. Historians feed off the power of the discursively his mentors, his teachers, his colleagues, his past, exploiting its potency just as historical novelists do, but students. He wove us gratefully into the tapestry of his historians also constantly discuss the ethics of doing that. To knowledge. whom are we responsible - to the people in our stories, to our Tom Griffiths, The Art of Time Travel, pp.129-132 sources, to our informants, to our readers and audiences, to the Encountering Science Fiction integrity of the past itself? How do we pay our respects, allow with George Turner for dissent, accommodate complexity, distinguish between our We all start somewhere on our journey into and through voice and those of our characters? The professional science fiction. Stories of this encounter are often similar, paraphernalia of history has grown out of these ethical depending on the age in which that encounter took place. Usually questions. there is a period in which we discover an interest in stories that are As Inga Clendinnen observes, historians have a moral about other than real life, a period of preparation, and then the contract with the past in a way that many novelists don’t. I moment when we realize for the first time that there is this would add that historians also have a moral contract with each fantastic literature, it has a name and it has a whole world of other. How could they even pretend to be brilliant loners when fascination waiting for us to explore. From that point of addiction their ethic and their creativity are so collegial? This is another we range over the field, finding what we like and what does not gift of Greg’s - to help us be generous in our scholarship, and in attract us, finding favorites and, if we are perceptive enough, our scholarly lives. Every work of history is built upon the labor beginning to understand the way in which this form of fiction and insights of others, and if it is good it seeks to display those works on us, and why. debts and is no less creative or original for that. Greg’s One of the best commentators and critics to find voice in metaphor for such respectful engagement was ‘conversation’: Australian fandom was George Turner. He was also one of Australia’s earliest fans and known to the Sydney Futurians even intimate, civilized, everyday, life-enhancing. History is ‘the though George does not appear to have concerned himself with discipline without a discipline’, the one social science that them. It was not until the launch of Australian SF Review and the aspires to represent the totality of human experience. contacts made by John Bangsund that George found himself ‘Discourse is unending,’ Greg reminded us. ‘Nothing is introduced to fandom and began making his own valuable discovered finally. The moments of understanding stand like contribution to Australia’s critical commentary on sf. (It is sad to sentences in a conversation.’ Reflective history makes us note that George died twenty years and a few days ago. He is still participants in the conversation, makes us good sadly missed by those who came to know him as a person, though conversationists. Dening acknowledged elaborately and perhaps those who came under his critical gaze are still much

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 14 relieved.) from caves under the earth. These were joys to the happy and In this article, from John Bangsund’s The New Millennial hungry mind, and be it known that many a boy’s paper of the Harbinger 5, of December 1968, George looks back upon five period published sf. The Nelson Lee, another defunct, ran a decades spent reading and thinking about stf. serial about adventure under the earth, the name of which I ADDICT’S PROGRESS have forgotten, but it featured a villain in the true Rider Four Decades of Science Fiction Haggard tradition, called ‘He-whose-name-must-not-be- I wish I had Sam Moskowitz’s files. No, I’m damned if I do. spoken’. The spine crawled deliciously, and that early hint of Reminiscence should be just that, with all the errors and false the dreadful unknown has never been forgotten. One was memories thrown in. I won’t consult even my own book case being primed for Merritt and Mundy and Williamson. for this forage into the past, and anyone who wishes may play But life really began in 1927, outside the old tin shed in Spot The Mistakes. Elizabeth Street where the McGill kiosk stood, and on a day Science fiction probably began, for me, on my father’s there hung on the wire racks a gaudy, irresistibly attractive knee when he read me a chapter of THE MAGIC PUDDING every treasure trove - Amazing night before bed. (That makes it nearer five decades than four, Stories no 1. Where I got so there’s the first mistake.) That book marks the beginning of the one-and-ninepence I the sense of wonder, together with ALICE IN WONDERLAND don’t know - where I got it about the same time. I can still quote from both, and do so at in succeeding months I the drop of an opportunity. Not sf, but pointers. hesitate to think - but in Hiatus. Memory stops again at about the age of nine, at that joyous glance an an Australian boy’s paper, Pals, long since defunct. It featured addiction was born. It was a number of stories by (I think) Jim Russell, which were definite a serious addiction, leading sf, in that they were based on technological ideas. (Future to crime, culmination in an surveyors of Australian sf, please note.) One of his stories attempt to steal THE involved a perpetual motion machine which eliminated friction CHESSMEN OF MARS from by mounting the moving parts in a magnetic field, and my a book shop, detected of irritated mind couldn’t see why it wouldn’t work. He also did a course and punished with a little job called ‘The War of the Frothients’ (derived from ‘from swift kick in the arse. There the interior’) concerning an invasion by semi-human monsters was adventure and peril in

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 15 being ten years old and short of pocket money. secondhand copies of most Burroughs, with an exchange In those days Gernsback was living on reprints while a system whereby a fresh one could be had for sixpence (or was stable of new writers developed by ineffably painful degrees. it fourpence?), and on the shelves of the Prahran Public Library Everybody knows the Wells and Verne novels, but who now were to be found scads of Rider Haggard, who belongs in the remembers TREASURES OF TANTALUS, STATION X (first of the tradition, if not strictly in the genre, and an occasional bonus invaded-mind tales), THE RUNAWAY SKYSCRAPER (Leinster’s like London’s BEFORE ADAM; plus, of course, a vast mine of first), A MODERN ATLANTIS, BEYOND THE POLE or THE REVOLT Jules Verne - OFF ON A COMET, DOCTOR OX’S EXPERIMENT OF THE PEDESTRIANS? These were trailblazers, for all their and CASTLE IN THE BALKANS spring to ming. Here one found crudity, and dullness (they didn’t seem dull then), and their also some relics of an older past - FRANKENSTEIN, naturally, ideas are still in current use. but also Lytton’s COMING RACE and Ainsworth’s ELIXIR OF Long deep sigh... Whatever happened to Morrison LIFE, and much more gone down in the dregs of recollection. Colladay, Aladra Septama, Miles J Brewer, Raymond Gallum, Ed There was a surprising amount of sf around if one was prepared Earl Repp, Clare Winger Harris, Leslie F Stone and a dozen more? to look for it. And we were prepared! It was a gnawing hunger. Not that it matter much; they were all pretty bad, in retrospect, They were great days, but there is no point in trying to but they carried the torch when it was still a near-guttering recapture them now. Re-reading is a destructive process; spark, and were giants in their day. But something remains of memory should be kept pristine. Only Wells stands the test of this baroque period - the indestructible Leinster is still with us, time, and he is the one I found dull and prosy then. You have to glibly adapting himself to changing requirements, and Schuyler grow up to appreciate Wells. Miller pontificates with the doubtful authority of age and Surfeit brought its inevitable revenge. At age eleven I venerability. was begin to sicken of the sweets of sf. And then came THE There were adventures in scavenging then as now. On SKYLARK OF SPACE and the appetite revived with a vengeance. hundred old copies of Gernsback’s Science and Invention, We can laugh at Smith, accuse him of snow-jobbing, triumphantly completing one’s collection of Cummings’s deride his characterization and inflated style, and level a dozen TARRAND THE CONQUEROR, published in seventeen monthly complaints against him, all justified, but he remains a landmark parts, and Merritt’s METAL EMPEROR, doled out in similar in sf and one of the most important things that ever happened miserly instalments, or found an ancient copy of the English to it. It seems to me that the real nature of his contribution has Strand serializing Rousseau’s MESSIAH OF THE CYLINDER (one not been properly understood. Schyler Miller and others instalment only, dammit). In Hall’s Book Store one found remind us that he opened up the boundaries of sf to include the

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 16 whole universe (which he didn’t - several others before him in Smith to task over his execrable freewheeling dialogue. She traveling the stars) and ignore the innovation which is his real objected to such terms as ‘cuddlepup’,whereat the Doctor monument. He revolutionized the technique of sf story telling. retorted that he had called his wife ‘cuddlepup’ for years and He threw away the laborious build-up background which turned found it a perfectly good word. And another gentleman, whose so many tales into essays, belted his plot along at breathless name escapes me, so much resented criticism of his novelette speed which even Burroughs could not match, and made the called ‘The Superman’ that he announced his intention never to first horrible but effective attempts to use naturalistic dialogue; write sf again. He didn’t, either. he pounded the reader with idea after idea, not discussed and The ‘Discussions’ column was livelier in those days. Or developed but poured out from a bottomless well of invention, perhaps it only seemed so. I contributed my two-penn’orth (at so that one was scarcely absorbed before another was beating age about fourteen) because Campbell was the acknowledged at the mind. rival of my divine Smith and I therefore hated him with the The writers were swift to catch on, and the era of the no- venom only a teenager can generate. I wrote letters, which holds-barred was upon us. His most obvious descendants, in were published (God help me), destroying Campbell for ever. the direct line, are Van Vogt and Bester, who have stretched the Nobody seemed to notice. technique to what must surely be its limit. He was a shot in the But - at the recent doings at Boronia I met a bloke who arm when sf sorely needed it. He was unique, and remained so actually remembered the letters and my name attached to despite imitators; and we don’t want another one because he them. Such memory is unfair. I felt about three feet tall for the was incredibly bad, but sf’s debt to him is immense. Only rest of the afternoon. Campbell has achieved so much and influenced the genre to The only other memorable appearance of the period was such an extent. the eruption of John Taine into pulp fiction. (You know he was And Campbell appeared approximately two years after mathematician Eric Temple Bell and not unimportant in his Smith. Unable to use the story telling technique, for he had sphere; his MEN OF MATHEMATICS, published by Penguin, is little true fictional ability, he took over the science-and-ideas worth reading for information and a simple introduction to angle and established the basis of a formidable reputation. many of the difficulties of mathematics.) Taine has been, in my And while we reminisce, let us remember the opinion, seriously underestimated and unappreciated. In a day ’Discussions’ column in Amazing, wherein Smith and Campbell of slapdash writing and careless melodramatics, when nothing fought bitterly over a matter of invisibility, as propounded in less than the approaching destruction of humanity could inspire Campbell’s ‘Solarite’, and an English lass, Miss Olive Rogg, took a story, he stuck sanely to science and thoughtful construction.

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 17 His writing was literate if uninspired, but his novels were true appalling yearning prose by Merritt out of Bad Poetry, novels rather than great dollops of feverish activity, and signs of culmination in the excellent WHO GOES THERE?, wherein he a present return to the method are very heartening. Also he discarded the literary trappings (which he had never took the trouble to be accurate in what he wrote. For instance, understood) and wrote one of the all-time best thrillers. He did his adventure into cyclic history (THE TIME STREAM) showed a not produce much in the way of fresh ideas, but he did offer much deeper understanding of the battered theory than some fresh approached to these ideas, which was necessary Asimov’s later Foundation nonsense, and his musings over and for which we must remember him. Nevertheless, the genetic interference (SEEDS OF LIFE) have profounder movement was in operation before he took up the running. implications than more technically oriented writers have Previous Astounding editors had set it going. Harry Bates had achieved since. He is still readable, despite archaisms of style given ALAS ALL THINKING and FAREWELL TO THE MASTER and an unfortunate preoccupation with the evils of communism (later altered, rewritten, mashed and brutalized into a film - THE and the yellow menace. The house of Dover have kept him alive DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL); H L Gold had written some with re-publication, and a good thing it is. provocative tales. The new wave was already in motion when There followed another period of surfeit and dullness, Campbell took over. But, under his riding, it certainly broke wherein this reader almost ceased to buy sf, being fed to the with a tremendous splash. teeth with repetition. What has happened to these bright, young men? Kuttner, Then came the renaissance, and there had been nothing who as Padgett was far and away the best writer of them all, is like it since it sheer excitement of novelty and rediscovery. In a dead, more’s the pity. Sturgeon has been virtually silent for couple of years just before the war, a great blister of talent years. Van Vogt, after a long and peculiar absence, has burst the skin. Heinlein, Van Vogt, Asimov, Sturgeon and de advanced not one inch from his start-line. De Camp writes little Camp surged to the front, each one established almost from his sf now. So, alas, does Asimov - and he, of all of them, has done first word, and the blood-and-thunder Kuttner married C L most with the least literary equipment; he has done what few Moore and with her became the fabulous Lewis Padgett. others in the field have bothered about; he has learned how to Legend seems to credit Campbell, newly appointed editor construct a story and by sheer technical ingenuity turned a of Astounding, with this outburst, but I have my doubts. pedestrian style into a source of constant interest. Campbell certainly changed his style and approach at this time (Construction is almost non-existent among American sf (the style was as bad as the approach was good) and produced writers; they simply write until they run out, lacking all sense of a queer hotchpotch of original conceptions written in an climax and build-up. Maybe that’s where the much lamented

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 18 sense of wonder has gone - into a limbo of mere competence.) As if encouraged, the English began a serious attack at As for Heinlein, who would have imagined that such a strong about this time (the early thirties). John Beynon Harris, later talent could degenerate into petulant tub-thumping? John Wyndham and Lucas Parkes &c), appeared regularly. J M Meanwhile in England another revolution was building up Walsh (an Australian, by the way, though long expatriate) did without fanfare but with far reaching effect. LAST AND FIRST VANDALS OF THE VOID and VANGUARD TO NEPTUNE. S MEN appeared in 1930 and BRAVE NEW WORLD in 1932. Neither Fowler Wright published THE WORLD BELOW (still one of the of these was conceived or written as genre sf, their authors best of its kind) and THE ADVENTURE OF WYNDHAM SMITH. having much more pressing themes in mind, but each has John Russell Fearn was also writing, but it might be kinder to exerted great influence on the present. They showed, in the forget that. dog days of routine sf, that it could be done with flair and The important thing about these writers was not panache, and with close attention to style, literacy and urgency originality, though they had some of that, but their insistence of theme; in fact they showed that the much maligned on the English tradition of good writing. They never bowed to mainstream could belt hell out of the in-group writers. the pulp style. They were not geniuses, destined for literary Moreover they were both best sellers. It is fashionable to decry halls of fame, but they were good craftsmen who adhered to the general public on such matters, on the ground that they are the necessities of structure and language. English magazines reading writers approved by the ‘establishment’ when they were still in the future, but the groundwork of a smoother, would be ashamed to be caught reading sf. Well, one wouldn’t more stylish sf was laid, and the scaffold is still rising with Aldiss blame them being ashamed to be caught with the sf of the and Clarke. James White and J T McIntosh are lesser men, but period, and any bookseller will tell you that the supposedly share the same tradition, which goes back unbroken to H G sheeplike public will not read what the ‘establishment’ tells it to, Wells, and owes surprising little to America. if it doesn’t feel like it. Best sellers can be manufactured and Reminiscence may as well end with the war. So little has are, but very few really bad books have ever achieved such happened since. Kornbluth and Pohl made their exciting status; many have been mediocre, but not outright splash; then Kornbluth died and Pohl has begun to show a hairy incompetent. The sf of the thirties was incompetent; only the heel. Frank Herbert gave us one fine novel, DRAGON IN THE uncritical could put up with it. And that means you and me. SF SEA, and has gone on to the intellectual delusion in one in the modern style began about 1936, but be it remembered direction and the unproductive sandhills of DUNE in anther. Hal that the English had done it first. Ignore Huxley and Stapledon Clement continues to please with the hard science novel, but is if you will, but they had shown the field a clean pair of heels. not writer enough to found a school. Cordwainer Smith

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 19 seemed a discovery, but there was an essential hollowness to sometimes speaks, and one wonders how the editor allowed it. his cosmos, and his allusive prose and private jokes helped to Perhaps suitable sf is so hard to get that even good work must make his intention obscure and his achievement tenuous. Only be published now and then to fill up space. Walter Miller, Philip Dick and James Blish show genuine creative Yet there is enough lucid, thoughtful work appearing to talent, with an occasional flash from Wilson Tucker on the keep faith alive. The forcing bed which cultures such flowers as American side; the English seem to be marking time, MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE, THEY SHALL HAVE STARS and maintaining a high level of competence (higher than the US in CANTICLE FOR LEIBOWITZ must have good nurture in it. Note general) but not advancing. that these did not appear in their final, genuinely creative form Surveying the field as it exists gives one the feeling that in magazines. Perhaps the future lies with the hardback something is in store. There is turmoil and experiment, mostly publishers. One would like to think so, because that is where muddled and undisciplined (and only the writer knows how the competition really gets tough. necessary a thing is discipline) but pregnant with the desire to There’s plenty of movement in sf. Something is in store escape the chains. The writers know sf is in the doldrums, when the writhing stops. The hope is sufficient to sustain the despite its unprecedented popularity, and many are struggling addiction manfully for new expression. Zelazney has tried and been George Turner caught up in the beastly necessity to maintain a rate of The New Millennial Harbinger 5, John Bangsund, APA-A production; Ballard has tried and been trapped in the coils of his mailing 2, December 1968. own legend; Farmer has tried and been forced into foolishness in the search for stories to hang his ideas on. A quick look at the magazines offers little hope. In Analog all bureaucrats, businessmen and professors are fools, only muscular engineers are human. Fantasy & Science Fiction continues to offer floridly evanescent tales abut precious little, though the occasional original gem creeps in, unnoticed in the ocean of pleasant ladies magazine style. Pohl, in If and its sisters, seem determined to bring back the flat, gory standards Daryl Lindquist, The Somerset Gazette 2, May 1970 of the thirties. Amazing lives by eating itself, and I hope the diet chokes it. Yet in each of these magazines an honest voice

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 20 1968 - Paul Stevens of the swinging Marquis in his hip pocket, a copy turns on the censors of Playboy open at the center section and a copy It’s time for little bit of levity, and time to read for the of the Melbourne Truth. He is a film distributor. first time in iOTA, the words of Paul Stevens. If there was ever a He walks across to confront the waxy visaged fan in Australia who knew how to make people laugh it was Paul, corpse sitting behind a desk. This is the Chief who had an endless sense of the ridiculous His primary sense of Censor. The censor is dressed in unrelieved black inspiration came from the Marx Brothers school but it usually with a stovepipe hut that is draped in black crepe disappeared off into Paul’s own particular brand of the surreal. paper. Skits like this became part of the entertainment in the Paul Steven Distributor: Hi ya, baby. Now what’s this I hear about youse Show which became a highlight at a number of Australian banning our importation of THE RAVISHMENT conventions in the late 1960s and early 1970s. AND SACRIFICE OF THIRTEEN VIRGINS FROM In the case of this piece, however, the topic is not at all OUTER SPACE? Don’t you know it’s an art funny. Even as late as the 1960s in Australia there were a bunch picture? of people, called ‘Wowsers’ by their detractors, who thought that Censor I t ’ s f i l t h ! T h a t ’ s w h a t i t i s , they knew better than the rest of us what was good for us. From filthfilthfilthfilthfilthfilth. the late 1930s some stf had been banned in Australia and in the Distributor: Sure it is but it will sell like crazy, baby. 1950s, for example, it was difficult to get copies of Weird Tales Censor No! I can’t let it through uncut, why in that scene into the country, books were routinely banned because of their where the thirteenth virgin is ravished by the subject matter and scenes were routinely hacked out of movies to purple visaged Martian crab our Miss Crudshaw protect the delicate sensibilities of Australians. (I recall reading somewhere recently that some scenes or parts of scenes were also went berserk and attacked our projectionist. cut out of early Star Trek episodes to protect us from seeing things Distributor A real swinger baby. the censor didn’t want us to see.) Paul and several other members Censor Swinger? She’s 87 and a past president of the of the Melbourne SF Club began protesting publicly about this Unmarried Wayward Mothers of Australia restriction. Here, in Paul’s own fanzine, Little SUPO Delux 5 of League. We bury her tomorrow. No, that scene October 1968, he turns his sense of humor on the censor must go. SNIP GO THE SHEARS BOYS, SNIP, SNIP, SNIP! Distributor Oh, alright but only if you leave in that scene SCENE: Office of the Chief Censor. Enter depraved where the Empire State building is torn down by looking character with four copies of the kinky life the brother of King Kong.

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 21 Censor Tell me, why don’t you make some decent films? McCormack, 49 Orchard Road, Bass Hill, NSW 2197 or Starbase Distributor Oh we tried that. Some character named Stunley 2, Nomad, 20 Tryon Avenue, Woolstoncraft, NSW 2065. Housebrick made a film called ‘2001 Space The colophon tells us that ‘TERRAN TIMES deals with Eulogies’ but it was a flop, only the sf fans STAR TREK, Leonard Nimoy, science fiction, science fact, attended. We made $2.10 out of it. It cost hobbits and other things of interest to the members of DUSK for $222,000,000 to make. whom it was instituted’. It may well be one of the first Star Trek Censor What about PLANET OF THE RAPES? That made fanzines published in Australia but this issue also shows an influence of broader fandom, partly in the content but mainly in money didn’t it? the production which makes it look very much like a fanzine of its Distributor Some, a meager $25 million profit in all. Not good time with electro-stencils provided by Noel Kerr and production enough, why CLIMB EVERY SOUND OF MUSIC help from Gary Mason. made more money in two days. Terran Times is a very entertaining fanzine. It opens with Censor Oh Ghu! Don’t make any more films like that again a lot of fun that put a big smile on my face, and continued through ... you’ll do me out of a job. the issue to the very end. Here’s the first paragraph of the issue, Distributor We’ve got a sequel in the works. It’s called written by Shayne: MODERN MILLIE MEETS HALF A SIXPENCE Well, here it is, almost Chrisy time, so I thought, why SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW. It stars Dully should I let them suffer through another month without the Andrews as the sixpence, Richard Brupon as the cheerful influence, that spark of gaiety amidst the drudgery of rainbow and John Lennon as Jesus. their lives. I couldn’t, of course, go against the kinder instincts Censor Sounds good. Any scenes to censor? of my generous heart {Nomad - heart .. what heart?} so here it Distributor Not a one. Sorry about that! is for your pleasure - TERRAN TIMES THREE. Think of it as an Censor Oh well, easy come, easy go. Want to buy some early Christmas present. filthy postcards from Port Said? Nomad continues this jolly introduction with her editorial, Paul Stevens one of the more fannish pieces of writing from around this time. Little SUPO Delux 5, ANZAPA 1, October 1968. I will indulge myself by reprinting the opening passage in full: 1970 - Fanzine Review ‘TERRAN TIMES is growing too big!’ cries Shayne in TERRAN TIMES 3, December 1970, edited by Shayne despair, ‘We can’t possibly afford thirty-five pages! And how do McCormack and Nomad for DUSK. Dues in the club are $1.25 a you suppose we’ll pay for all those electro-stencils??’ year. For details contact the club president at Starbase 1, Shayne ‘Don’t worry’, I reply, ‘True artists don’t count the costs,

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 22 only the results – we’ll make ends meet somehow’, I add, ‘Just wait and see.’ We’re still waiting. ‘It’s only a fanzine after all’, I remind a distraught Shayne. ‘And if you can show me a fanzine that makes a profit, I will hunt down and spifflocate the capitalist editor!’ I announce, bravely waving my plastic imitation spifflocator. ‘But we’ll still starve,’ she sobs, ‘and one can’t eat electro-stencils!’ ‘Things aren’t so bad,’ I say comfortingly, passing her the bottle of corflu, ‘Here, have a whiff, it’ll turn you on and end all worries.’ But, alas, the corflu bottle is empty at last. Not even the brush holds the faintest scent of the captivating, entrancing liquid! ‘Oh, no!’ wails Shayne, ‘This is the last straw! We’re ruined!’ And I have to agree as I reach for the salt shaker and an unappetising looking electro-stencil ...... What can go wrong after such an energetic and entertaining introduction? Not much really. It is a Star Trek fanzine that doesn’t take itself too seriously and includes a lot of material that is of wider interest. There were three pieces of Trek fiction; a long one which I skimmed, a shorter one that I enjoyed for the way it captures the characteristics of the Star Trek crew and the third which cleverly incorporated the titles of Star Trek episodes into the story. There is a bit of poetry which isn’t too bad and has the benefit of being short.

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 23 There are also a number of short articles - some of them a making a bid for the WorldCon in 1975 possible. Let’s join the little too short - on topics such as UFOs, Mr Spock, Middle Earth, other 150 fans at the convention business session which was, the Sydney Science Fiction Foundation and Moog synthesizers. thankfully, summarized in Luna Monthly 17 of October 1970 (and Another article uses some lyrics from Simon and Garfunkel songs which I’m summarizing even further). to demonstrate that Paul Simon was the greatest poet of his time. The first motion proposed was a detailed explanation of the (This was wrong, or course, it was John Lennon.) Add in a letter division of the North American continent into three zones for column and some not-so-bad fan art and you end up with a nice purposed of arranging WorldCon bidding. This is so complex as little, if 42 pages can be considered little, fanzines. to make your eyes bleed, and it was passed on to the following Recommended, if you can find it. convention for consideration, so let’s pass over it too. I came cross this issue among John Foyster’s papers at The next motion was torn up by the convention’s Monash University. I wouldn’t mind having my own copy so I’ve parliamentarian, following a precedent set at a previous warmed up the time machine. Dial up December 1970... No, let’s WorldCon. It is likely that the philosophy of this motion would be more specific than that. Gary Mason made Sydney SF have been too divisive for fandom, remembering that the Vietnam Foundation monthly meetings sound like fun, and perhaps Shayne War was still raging in 1970. It read: will be there with freshly collated copies of this issue to hand out, Resolved, that Heicon’70, concerned about the world of so I can get one then. Do you think she will find me strange if I the future, concluded that the institution of war as an ask her to autograph it? instrument of national policy is incompatible with the The Long and Winding Road development of a humanistic society and may lead to the to Aussiecon destruction of all societies. In the first of these segments (iOTA 04) we talked about The third motion concerned the establishment of a concerns that Australian fans had in 1970 about recent changes to European convention. The meeting felt this was not a matter for the World SF Convention site bidding rules which would make an decision by a World SF Convention but there was strong support Australian bid difficult, if not impossible, for the year 1975. Well, for the proposal and immediately following this business session let’s jog along to the World SF Convention which was held in an informal gathering of European fans began formulating plans Europe for the first time (since we can’t call Britain part of Europe for the first European convention to he held in Trieste in any more) at Heidelberg in what was then West Germany. Hence conjunction with the film festival. the name ‘HeiCon ‘70'. Bruce Pelz, an American BNF, then presented a motion: Australians had prepared a proposed change to the bidding That the World Science Fiction Convention rotation plan rules that would turn them back to the way we wanted them, return to a zone system, ie, the Western, Mid-West and Eastern

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 24 zones of North America, beginning in 1973 with the Mid-West artist Terry Jeeves, well know in fandom around the world, who zone. The boundaries of these zones shall be as previously made drawings supporting the bid. defined. Any site outside of North America may bid for a World Science Fiction Convention in any year. All bids must be placed two years in advance. An amendment to this motion was proposed which would have made the rotation system four yearly, with an overseas country holding the WorldCon every fourth year. In the shorter term this might have had an effect on Australia’s planned bid, in the longer term it would have meant that it was really only a ‘world’ convention every fourth year. In any event, the amendment was unanimously defeated and the Pelz motion was adopted unanimously. This resolved the problems that Australian fans had with the Terry Jeeves, Rataplan 7, undated bidding system so, when Robin Johnson’s motion on behalf of Australian fandom came next, he withdrew it without it being read. Progress Report He then presented another motion to delete a section of the The past month has been one of trawling, a lot of it and constitution relating to Hugos as English language only awards, pretty tedious it gets too, I can assure you. Occasionally I come which passed by an overwhelming majority. across something that gets me excited - like the George Turner Following this there were two more motions related to article reprinted in this issue - but trawling is basically a matter of bidding arrangements inside North America and adding ‘no award’ building up a picture of the historical past the same way that an to all Hugo categories, and the meeting was over inside the hour. artist builds up a mosaic, finding little pieces of glittering So far as Australian fans were concerned, the way was now open information and trying to find where they fit into the big picture. for them to bid to hold a World SF Convention in 1975 with a The difference between what I knew when I found the first pieces reasonable chance of success. for this project and what I think I know, now that I’ve After this Australian fans embarked on the ambitious and accumulated over a thousand, is the difference between being energetic task of promoting their bid. It did not take long for faced with a big blank space and a huge pile of potential material overseas fans to take up the idea of ‘Australia in ‘75' as well and and beginning to see the big picture, or at least parts of it in only many contributed to it’s promotion. One of them was British fan fuzzy detail..

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 25 The new Special Collections Reading Room at Monash University. It is What work looks like in the reading room. From the left; a computer for fabulous with helpful and friendly staff. It makes sitting in there and record keeping and scanning, then the scanner, a space in which to work reading humble fanzines seem ... well ... important. and behind it notebooks and other records, next the pile of fannish Foyster material to be delved into and finally the box from which it came and to which it will be returned I did take a day to go to the Rare Books Reading Room at Monash University and went through some more boxes of John look at it I have less time to get on with the job. Foyster’s papers, which is another form of trawling. I open a box, The other thing I did was to put together the beginnings of tip its contents onto the table and then begin putting each piece of an annotated chronology. I already have quite a detailed one on paper or fanzine back into the box, stopping to examine and copy this computer but, frankly, it would not be very interesting if you the ones that are relevant to this project. As you may know, a fire read it raw. So I thought it might be interesting to give brief completely destroyed John and Elizabeth home towards the end of explanations about entries. This turned out to be useful because 1966, so there is little from before that period. There’s also a great it showed me what I knew and what I didn’t know and need to deal of material from after 1975 that is interesting, but if I stop to find out more about. So far it only goes up to 1966, simply

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 26 because I ran out of space for any more. I distributed copies of this first version of the annotated chronology at the recent convention and it will also be made available with this issue of iOTA. I should probably make myself a target of producing an expanded version later in the year, but it is quite an exercise and took more time than I would have imagined when I started on it. To Be Done More of the same, and probably another visit to Monash University to look at more Foyster papers. I love my job, apart from the tedious bits. The Photo File Only one photo this time. And it’s your fault! I’m sure you have piles of old photos that would be of interest to us lying about everywhere in your place, gathering dust and fading in the sunlight. Shame on you. Get them dusted off, organized and Your Say scanned and sent to me where we can all see them. Lee Harding begins: While you’re doing that, here is a photo montage pasted into Alas, my rightful place in the Fannish Hall of Fame didn't the 49th issue of Etherline. The photos were taken during Arthur make it into the Gelaticon report in iOTA 6: The moment when C Clarke’s visit to Queensland in March 1955. I burst into the conference room while a fan panel was in

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 27 progress to announce: ‘Hey guys, there’s a gelati van parked I enjoyed the photo of “GelatiCon”, I think I am seventh outside!’ The sudden and hasty exodus of the audience stunned from the left, and Carey Handfield is on my left in the blue the panelists, though they soon sauntered out to join the queue. check shirt. It could be that Bruce Gillespie is behind me in the Also missing from the report was the Apollo 13 spacecraft, red jumper. returning to Earth from a nearly disastrous there-and-back If I get my magnifying glass out Rob, and try to remember journey to the Moon - this was a constant topic of conversation how good we all looked at the beginning of the 1970s, I think you throughout the Con: fortunately, as history records, they DID might be right. Now we just need all the others in the photo to put make it back. Ah, them were days to be alive, matey! up their hands and admit that they were at that convention too. It No worries Lee, your moment of fame has arrived at last. was quite a different world from the convention we were at just I may well have been on that fan panel, boring people within an recently. I wonder which was the more enjoyable; the facilities inch of their lives and as relieved as everyone else to have were better more recently but there was no gelati van to create a something novel and lively to do when you announced the arrival unique occasion - I could have used one during the panel that I sat of the gelati van. And as for your mention of Apollo 13, now in on. you’re starting to make me feel old. Roman Orszanski adds some interesting comments about Bruce Gillespie reminds us that a lot of the talking from old and new fandoms: GelatiCon has seen print: Your musing on modern fandom while looking at Ditmars John Bangsund used to have a tape of his Humphrey Tape for best Fan Publication in Any Medium struck a chord with me. talk. It might be unplayable now. Some idea of its quality can be Not all podcasts are sercon - we here in Adelaide manage a obtained by reading it in the complete transcript of GelatiCon in suitably fannish podcast; KRAM-StuFf at doxa.podbean.com. Boys Own Fanzine 2, 1971. However, the run-off grooves of the We cover everything from books to TV, comics, radio plays and long-playing records played during the performance could not even immersive 3d! The length of each podcast is usually below be transcribed. 5 minutes. BOF 2 was then one of the largest Australian fanzines ever Our podcast is named from the initials of the quartet who published, and includes a bracing speech by Dick Jenssen. It stated it: Kathryn, Roman, Adam and Mim, the last of whom does not, as I remember, include the text of the Science Fiction hasn’t appeared for several years. We get together about once Widows Panel, which included Diane Bangsund, Elizabeth a fortnight, record five or six episodes and then release them Foyster and Carla Harding. An immensely amusing item. after editing. (Longtime fans might recall a small audiozine I Rob Gerrand adds a personal note: produced as a cassette, called The Steam-Driven Fluglehorn. And

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 28 yes, duplicating multiple copies was an absolute pain. Posting white western English-speaking males. (As was pointed out to audio mp3 files is much, much easier.) me at Eurocon, the largest SF magazine in Europe is Polish! I I think fandom is still experimenting with the online suspect the Chinese magazines hold the world record for medium, and the possibility of combining text, pictures and circulation.) time-based media (audio, video, slides). Rather than complain about the future in which we find I won’t disagree with you, Roman, about the need, the ourselves, we should enjoy the feast and realize that even if necessary drive even, for fans to experiment with and find the only a small percentage of new fans evince an interest in ways that suit them best to use the new media. More power to fannish customs, it’s still a huge number in absolute terms. But them, and you, for appropriating the new communications modes we might have to learn some things from the new fen, rather to the purposes of fandom. Keep innovating. I’ve thought about than insist the old ways are best. it for this project but, since the final outcome of it is going to be I was struck by the following passages from Hansen’s text (with images), I decided that the research work leading up to THEN (p124, Ansible Editions): it should also be in the same medium. Relations between fandom's sercon and fannish wings The other thing is that I don’t really enjoy podcasts because were not always harmonious, but by 1954 external they are like listening into people’s conversations or sitting in on developments, in the form of SF's increasing popularity were talks or panel sessions at convention, with all the faults of those modes of communication. But I see that the 2016 Australian SF beginning to affect them both. Writing in HYPHEN, Bill Temple Snapshot was the winner in the Best Fan Publication Ditmar observed that: category this year and that was my least favorite nomination ‘Today SF batters you with more magazines and books because of its superficiality and because it had neither the than you could hope to read if you did nothing else all day. It's personality of podcasts or the clarity of blogs. So, what do I know! all over the cinema and TV screens, and drools from the radio. You are right in the split between old fandom and new It infests advertisement headings, strip cartoons, kids’ comics, fandom: SF is no longer a minority pursuit, and it dominates the toy-shops, literary weeklies, and pantomimes. It's even been media. Old fans might complain ‘the classics’ have been mentioned at The Globe. forgotten, but they live in a world of extraordinary riches SF ‘We always wanted to spread SF, and now, God help us, wise. TV schedules are full of SF/Fantasy offerings; the cinemas we've done it. And somehow in the stampede the magic has are dominated by superhero comics SF/adventure films, many been trampled underfoot." of high quality, and an amazing variety of excellent SF is being To which Willis replied: published by authors from a variety of backgrounds, not just ‘Fandom does seem to be passing through a period of

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 29 self-evaluation at the moment. For years its ostensible purpose project. was to promote science fiction; but now that SF has been This tempts me into another diversion which I will indulge promoted it snubs its old friends and scorns its humble in, for a moment. I was particularly struck during our panel beginnings. Fans are now ‘unrepresentative’, an esoteric discussion by Dick Jenssen’s comment along the lines that he had clique... and the serious constructive fans have been left as high come to enjoy the academic life so much that it precluded him and dry as the rest of us -- in fact more so, because they have from participating much in fandom. It was a ‘lightbulb’ moment lost their entire reason for existence.’ for me which helped me understand my motivations in undertaking this project. Seems we’re rediscovering the evolution of fandom, I never lived the full academic life that Dick did, but I again. What was that saying? Those ignorant of their history are learned to love its challenges and intellectual rewards enough to doomed to repeat it? immerse myself in them to the extent that it overwhelmed any Perhaps, Roman, perhaps. Although it seems to me that great interest in fannish achievement. Now that I have returned to while much of human life is cyclic it is also helictical. What goes the fold for a time I am enjoying the company and comradeship of around comes around but times winged arrow also shuffles us friends old and new, but this would not be enough without the along a bit. After all, fandom is still here and, apparently, going ‘academic’ challenge to explore, analyze, understand and tell a strong even though it is a different kind of fandom to the one that story about what we were and are all on about. Perhaps this drive Temple and Willis knew. to go deeper and seek greater challenges is what turns many fans Your comments, and my visit to the convention, reminded into filthy pros. The only difference is that I became a different me of something that I wanted to write somewhere in this issue. kind of pro. (Note to self: go back and reread Bloch’s The Eight When I started out on this project, I had no intention to end up Stages of Fandom.) discussing current day fandom as much as I seem to have been And finally for this issue, Marc Ortlieb, who hastens to doing. However, dipping my toes into the fandom of 2017 has remind us of his gafiated status these days: turned out to be a very useful research experience. Had I As you know, I don’t do this sort of thing anymore and so embarked on this project in the mid 1990s, before the innovation of the www, wi fi and the mobile phone, and done a similar I blame you for your fan history panel at Continuum. Being exploration of fandom then, I would have found it very similar to virtually retired I might have the occasional moment to read the fandom of my neofan days. But now those technologies and and respond to Iota. I started by downloading six issues from the use of them has changed fandom greatly in many ways so that e-fanac and fascinating reading they were. I had seen some of I am now able to compare and contrast (to use the old examination the articles about early Sydney fandom previously, in various phrase) ‘old’ and ‘new’ fandoms to much better effect for this fanzines but they were good to revisit. (Just to re-establish my

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 30 credentials, I’m typing this while listening to far more PJ Harvey that were co-operative, the Association was Stone’s baby and he than is good for me.) kept it for himself to run as he thought best. Don’t blame me for the Continuum panel, I am but a humble The problem with this, it seems to me, is that Stone had tool in Bruce Gillespie’s plans for world domination. And, you attitudes towards science fiction that he had formed around the really don't need to concern yourself about doing 'this sort of thing' time of his introduction to fandom in about 1940. This included anymore, your reputation is safe with me. iOTA is, in fact, a piece a particularly defensive attitude towards the dignity that should be of serious academic history research so you should look upon afforded stf and a strong leaning towards bibliography as a way of reading and commenting on it as a duty and responsibility rather studying the field. This view of what his Association should do than something you might find entertaining. had been tolerable in the early 1950s when the environment in Your Gelaticon photos are a delight. Jenny Stephenson which stf was to be found had not changed much, but by the late was very short due to spinal issues. There was one Melbourne 1960s there had been a significant evolution of stf itself and it’s convention where I was walking down the street with Jenny on place in the public consciousness. While Melbourne fandom by one side and all six foot ten of Andrew Brown on the other side. then, with its dual centers in the Melbourne SF Club and the I suspect that Cath has photos. fanzine Australian SF Review, lived with and understood these For a photo like that I’m willing to stretch the boundaries a new realities, it appears that Stone did not. Furthermore, his move little, so get Cath right on to the hunt. to Canberra in the early 1960s had probably isolated him from any We also heard from Ken Fletcher, Robin Johnson and Dick developments taking place in Sydney so that his attitudes and his Jenssen sullen resistance to change in the Association had put him well outside stf and fandom by the time John Bangsund wrote the 1968 - Graham Stone following piece. Makes John Bangsund’s Blood Boil John Bangsund is a highly intelligent, refined and reserved Remembering back to the report of the 1954 national person who knows what he speaks about and does it with a convention in this issue and the report of the 1953 convention in delightful tone and sense of humor. But not in this piece which he our previous issue, it is clear that Graham Stone was making published in his The New Millennial Harbinger 3 in December people’s blood boil in the early 1950s. It seems that Stone was a 1968. This item is worth considering because it is about the gulf rather obstinate fellow who got a notion into his head and stuck to that had developed between two understandings of the role of it, no matter what. One of his notions was that there should be a fandom in the promotion of stf and the antagonism that had national sf organization and he set up the Australian SF developed between what was then ‘old’ fandom in Sydney and the Association to fill that role. Unlike many fannish organizations then ‘new’ fandom in Melbourne.

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 31 SOME NOTES ON bibliographical activities, giving special attention to all THE AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE FICTION ASSOCIATION original fiction and critical articles published by The Australian Science Fiction Association is a man named Australians anywhere, and to original fiction and critical Graham Stone, who lives in Canberra and whom I have never articles by overseas writers published in Australia. met, though we have corresponded. He is a librarian. He has 2 It should constitute itself on a proper and legal basis, been for many years for many people the voice of Australian appoint representatives in each state, and give its science fiction. membership a larger part in the conduct of its affairs. Graham Stone has a fair claim to being considered as 3 It should act as an information bureau, freely accessible Australia’s no 1 fan. But he hates fandom, despises conventions, to any person in Australia or overseas who requires loathes fanzines, detests fannish jargon. information about any aspect of science fiction or the Because I haven’t met him I can’t say much about him and activities of science fiction enthusiasts. hope to be accurate. But I have read a lot that he has written, 4 It should act as a liaison body, keeping the clubs and and I have talked to many people who have met him or had individual enthusiasts in Australia in contact with each dealings with him; and on the basis of this information I have other and with their fellows overseas. reached the conclusion that he is an odd (but not that odd) 5 It should sponsor the conduction of annual conventions, mixture of Napoleon, Judge Rutherford and Lord Timothy and from time to time, more formal public meetings. Dexter. On a small scale of course. He acts like a dictator, 6 I am in a position to give the Association a great deal of believes that everyone is against him or his interests, and has assistance in all these areas, and I will, if sone expansion the knack (odious in his case) of totally ignoring any person he or re-organization takes place along these lines. wishes to. It is no secret that at the Melbourne SF Conference last With the July issue of his fanzine, ‘The Journal of the Easter I moved for the formation of an Australian SF Society, ASFA’, he enclosed a questionnaire which among other (rather which would have as its functions something like what I have personal) things asked: ‘What services should the Association outlined in my proposals here. My motion was defeated by a give priority in undertaking. What assistance can you give in narrow margin. A committee was subsequently elected (if these?’ that’s the word) to draft a recommendation to the Australian I would like to answer these questions first, and point out SF Convention, to be held in 1969, on the shape of such a that I am a member of the Association. Society. 1 The Association should expand and consolidate its Now it would seem a pity to have two national

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 32 organizations in Australia, each no doubt ignoring or (worse) review.) Why does this review not mention the fact that the denigrating the other. But if the ASFA does not cater for the book includes a story by A Bertram Chandler - an honor for an interest and enthusiasm which exists and is growing in the Australian writer, no matter what you think of the story - a country, what alternative is there? For me there would be none; story first published in ASFR? If the omission was deliberate, it I would have to sever my connection with the Association (if I is almost scandalous; if the excuse is that the review was a didn’t, I’m sure Graham would) and devote all my work and reprint from an American fanzine, it may merely be editorial interest to the body which took the larger view. incompetence. As a paid-up member of ASFA it concerns me (frustrates In the November issue of the Journal, Graham has a and infuriates me, would be a more accurate way of putting it) wrongheaded and insulting review of THE PACIFIC BOOK OF that I have no say whatsoever in the running of the AUSTRALIAN SF. And he doesn’t even bother to mention all organization. I don’t get a vote on such matters as to who the contributors to the volume. (Lee Harding and Damien should conduct the Association and what it should do. I doubt Broderick, two Melbourne authors, are among the three the legality of the whole business. There has been a provisional omitted; the third is Kit Denton. John Baxter’s editorial is Constitution: Graham sent me a cop when I asked for it - a mentioned, but not his story.) Of course, it’s not a terribly photo-copy of a typed sheet. Do I and my fellow members have important book - it’s only the first collection of Australian sf. a say in the shape of the permanent Constitution? In the review of the Pacific Book, Graham grudgingly As an organization preoccupied with bibliography in admits that Stephen (Graham spells it ‘Steven’, but he’s only a general and Australian bibliography in particular, why has the bibliographer) Cook’s story has some merit. (In fact it’s far and Association ignored utterly AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE FICTION away the best story in the book.) The Journal has yet to report REVIEW? This question is not prompted by motives of anguish the death, eighteen months ago, of this highly talented young at non-recognition. I simply want to know how 400,000 words writer. (roughly) of writing about sf, including some original fiction, The Journal has also neglected to mention that Leigh published in this country can be utterly ignored by anyone Brackett and Edmond Hamilton visited Sydney last year; that professing to be a bibliographer of Australian science fiction. new science fiction groups have been launched in Sydney, In the July issue of the Journal there is a review of the Brisbane and Monash University; or that there was such a thing Berkley paperback, BEST SF: 1967. (Also issued by Sphere as as a Science Fiction Conference held in Melbourne last Easter. THE YEAR’S BEST SCIENCE FICTION no 1, and this is the edition Is this neglect deliberate? Is it a policy? Is the Association available in Australia, though you wouldn’t know from the simply not interested in matters such as these? And if so, how

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 33 does the ASFA justify its title? Is it perhaps that the source of And you owe it to your members to make a statement on much of this information is ASFR, and that this magazine is a the propositions I have set out on the first page of these notes. fanzine and therefore unworthy of mention? John Bangsund (23/11/68) I wish I knew the answers to these questions. In a The New Millennial Harbinger 3, ANZAPA 2, December supplement to the November issue, Graham says: “SF is 1968. frequently abused and sneered at in the daily press, in fact any 1972 - Adelaide’s First Convention reference is usually slighting. Don’t let them get away with it - Your examination question for this issue is: whenever you sight something of this kind write a brief letter to Read this article written for the January/February 1972 the editor complaining...’ issue of the A75 Bulletin: by Bruce Gillespie and then reread the Well, Graham Stone, you are abusing Australian science report of the 1954 convention reprinted earlier in this issue. Write fiction yourself - and your function as a bibliographer - by a 1000 word essay comparing and contrasting the two conventions refusing to recognize the fan press and anything that pertains for the activities that took place at them and the ways in which the to it. This is my letter of complaint to you, and I want an two authors have described them. Marks will be deducted for a answer. lack of humor in your response. You don’t own me anything, Graham, though I expect ADVENTION common decency. I couldn’t care less about your persecution The first Adelaide Science Fiction Convention complex, though it occasionally makes me wonder how many Many people who attended the first science fiction other members have the same 1930-style idea about the convention ever to be held in Adelaide (including me) voted it acceptance of sf by the general public. But as a spokesman for the best Australian convention for a long time. It was Australian sf, and as a bibliographer, you own it to all the people Australia’s first ‘live-in’ convention, held in Melville House, a who have written for AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW to guest house/university camp site in the Belair National Park, explain why you have totally ignored their contributions to about twelve miles from the center of Adelaide. Most people Australian sf. arrived on December 31, and the committee was faced with Who are these people? providing meals a day earlier than expected. Like every other [John then gives the names of 92 contributors to ASFR, impossible job, they managed to do it. Food was provided by many of them leading names in Australian and international stf, the committee for $2.00 per person per day, accommodation only one of which, Norma Williams, would have been found was 50¢ a night. The food was mainly prepared by Joy Window, among the ranks of the old FSS.] Monica Addington and friends, who kept on keeping of for four

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 34 days. FANTASTIC VOYAGE preceded tea. After Bruce Gillespie’s The first night settled into a general discussion group, Guest of Honour speech, the first part of a spirited auction which ended when one of the Committee members arrived at followed, conducted by Monica Addington. FIVE MILLION about one o’clock in the morning. His girlfriend wanted very YEARS TO EARTH, a magnificently horrifying film based on much to meet John Bangsund, about whom she had heard a QUATERMASS AND THE PT sent everyone to bed in a state of great deal. John Bangsund had however been asleep for several cold shivers. hours, but some people decided to wake him anyway. A group This was the last pretension to a program during the of people went over to the dormitory, turned on the light, and convention. The sun came out the next day. Everyone moved debated whether or not to wake John. At last John put his head outside for the second part of the auction, and Lee Harding out of the blankets, said: ‘I keep telling you fellows: no mustered some spirited bidding for piles of musty pulps and autographs after midnight,’ and fell back asleep. The comics. People got sunburnt, or went for rides on a motorbike committee member’s girlfriend got her interview. Next which had mysteriously turned up. Alan Sandercock tried to morning. John Bangsund maintained that the event didn’t insist that we stick to the program. He tried to arrange a panel happen because he couldn’t remember it happening. outside, based on the topic: ‘Robert Heinlein - The Man You People then tested their hard beds, finally got to sleep Love to Hate’. I remember that there were other people on the about 3am if they got to sleep at all, and most woke up at about panel besides Blair Ramage, Alan Sandercock, John Hewitt and 7 or 8 in the morning. Breakfast was on at 9, and people began myself. Unfortunately, Blair was the only person who wanted to think about a convention by 2 o’clock in the afternoon on to talk about Heinlein. Harding, Bangsund and company didn’t New Years Day. After registration and welcomes, Paul want a panel at all, and the rest of the panel members couldn’t Anderson, Bill Wright, Robert Bowden, Alan Sandercock and be bothered arguing with Blair. So Blair talked about the Bruce Gillespie debated the merits of various magazine, virtues of Heinlein, Harding and Bangsund made jokes at the anthology and book editors. Luckily Lee Harding arrived at this expense of Heinlein and Blair, and the rest of the panel tried to point, and improved the program greatly by debating at length pretend that they had nothing to do with. At one stage, John with Robin Johnson, Blair Ramage and other members of the Hewitt was taking photos of the audience while the audience audience. conduced the panel discussion. Jeff Harris led a very interesting panel on ‘pseudo-science Mild Lunacy followed the panel. John Bangsund began in science fiction’ for which he had done a fair amount of to play the piano. Merv Binns began to whistle and sing (he research. A disintegrating 16mm print of Richard Fleischer’s even smiled as well). The rest of us gaped in astonishment. Lee

iOTA 07, June 2017, page 35 Harding began to dance some Fred Astaire routines. The convention became a singalong and mainly stayed that way. Tea disintegrated into complete lunacy. There were loud cheers for the committee, finishing with a round of ‘Happy Birthday, Dear Tolkien’, and a final toast to Alphonso the Wise. ‘Speech, speech!’ said somebody. ‘He can’t make a speech’, said John Bangsund, ‘He’s been dead for six hundred years’. Redoubled cheering. By this time the honorable committee member’s girlfriend was seated between John Bangsund and Lee Harding. Alan Sandercock tried to tell people about Australia in ‘75, but nobody was listening, and then Dracula (alias Paul Stevens) interviewed a cretinous monster, a lunatic film director, and a drunken critic ‘who really doesn’t know much about films’ (ably portrayed by Merv Binns, Lee Harding and John Bangsund in that order.). The Adelaide fans disposed of Dracula by rushing at him with crosses mounted on broomsticks. Those people who could still see watched Byron Haskins’ very good sf thriller, THE POWER, and most people retired by 2am. Some people went on a midnight hike, and arrived back at 4am. A lot of people had to head back interstate the next morning, but the pleasant atmosphere lasted most of the day. During Advention, Bill Wright and I decided that (a) all future Australian conventions must be live-in, (b) all future conventions must have a piano, and (c) no future convention need have a program. Thanks very much to the convention committee, and all who turned up. Bruce Gillespie, January 1972 Terran Times 3 back cover (A75 Bulletin: Jan/Feb 1972.)

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